Stevens Center

Edwards F. Stevens was the tenth president of George Fox University and held this position from 1982-1998. While serving as president of George Fox he also was the head of many national organizations. He was the chairman of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1992 to 1993. Stevens was also the chairman of the national Christian College Consortium in 1987 and 1988. He then became the president of the American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities. He also served on the board of National Council of Independent Colleges.

In Oregon he was the chairman of Oregon Independent College Association and was also  a board member of the Oregon Independent Colleges Foundation. He was a participant in the Newberg Friends Church and attended the Yearly Meeting of Friends.

Edwards F. Stevens said that “George Fox—this community—belongs to Christ in a real way,” he wanted to see George Fox as an institution “growing in its service to God.”

The “Stevens Era” at George Fox was a time of growth in enrollment, facilities, the programs, and the budget. July 1, 1983, George Fox College had enrolled 650 students, a budget of $5.3 million, 42 faculty members, and only offered traditional undergraduate programs. It was during his presidency that George Fox College merged with Western Evangelical Seminary to become George Fox University. With the faculty and student population growing there also needed to be renovations to the campus.  Stevens oversaw the renovations to buildings and new facilities being built on campus. In 1988 Shambaugh Library was doubled in size and became the Murdock Learning Resource Center, then in 1990 and 1991 the residents hall Beebe and Wilcuts were opened, in 1994 the Edwards-Holman Science Center opened, and renovations for the third floor of Wood-Mar Hall were at work.

The time that Steven served as president he added many new majors such as computer information science, video communication, international studies, engineering, foreign languages, elementary education, and art.

Stevens was known for devoting far more than a regular full-time schedule to the rigorous duties of the presidency. He was quick to rely on God for day-to-day guidance and to keep the institution’s focus on the Lord.

At the dedication ceremony in 2001

The Stevens Center, which was originally going to be named the University Center, is the administrative/student services building which honors the name and the service that Edward F. Stevens promoted during his time as president at George Fox. It was planned that the Stevens building would hold the new administrative offices for Enrollment Services and Student Life. It would also be a  space for the university bookstore, student government offices, and new classrooms.

Today the Stevens Center houses the President’s Office, IT Services, the Idea Center, a computer lab for graphic design students, the Registrar’s Office, Academic Affairs, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Student Life, Admissions, and many classrooms.